Marriage equality crucial for LGBTQ mental health

IN THEIR OWN WORDS: Celebrate marriage equality as a crucial step toward the well-being of LGBTQ loved ones.

A recent U.S. Supreme Court decision that struck down state bans on same-sex marriages was perhaps one of the fastest and simplest public health interventions our society could provide to dramatically and immediately improve the health and well-being of lesbian, gay and bisexual people.(Photo: Getty Images/iStockphoto)

On June 26, the Supreme Court voted 5-4 to strike down state bans on same-sex marriage, thus ensuring marriage equality for same-sex couples in all 50 states.

Prior to the landmark ruling, the vast majority of gay and lesbian couples were either not permitted to marry or their marriages were not recognized across state lines. Recent Gallup polling found one in six legally married same-sex couples live in states that did not recognize their marriage.

Marriage is the cornerstone of strong families. U.S. Census data for 2013 finds married same-sex couples have more economic resources than their unmarried same-sex counterparts and are also five times more likely to be raising adopted or foster children.

Clearly, legal marriage provides significant benefits to married couples and their children, benefits which same-sex couples are now guaranteed nationwide.

Marriage equality is also a crucial component of the health and well-being of gay, lesbian and bisexual people. The scientific findings demonstrating this are consistent and clear.

For instance, research finds legally married same-sex couples experience less distress than gay, lesbian and bisexual people who are not legally married. More strikingly, a 2010 public health study found state bans on same-sex marriage led to a 37 percent increase in mood disorders, a 42 percent increase in alcohol-use disorders, and a whopping 248 percent increase in generalized anxiety disorders among gay, lesbian and bisexual people living in those states.

Marriage equality, put simply, was perhaps one of the fastest and simplest public health interventions our society could provide to dramatically and immediately improve the health and well-being of lesbian, gay and bisexual people.

National marriage equality should have many additional and far-reaching mental health benefits.

Marriage equality can foster changing societal attitudes towards lesbian, gay, transgender, and queer or questioning people. With shifts in societal attitudes should come reductions in prejudice and discrimination, exposure to which are harmful for mental health and well-being.

But, there remains work to be done to ensure true mental health parity for LGBTQ people. This population continues to experience significantly high levels of prejudice and stigma, and many states provide LBGTQ people no legal protections from discrimination in education, employment, housing, access to supportive and appropriate medical care and other vital spheres of living.

LGBTQ youth are at particularly high risk; when bullied or discriminated against, these youths are significantly more likely to experience depression, anxiety and substance abuse problems.

Lack of familial support puts LGBTQ youth at high risk for homelessness; although comprising only 3 percent of the population, up to 40 percent of homeless youth are LGBTQ.

Supportive school settings (including teachers and staff specifically trained to work with LGBTQ youth, and the establishment of Gay-Straight Alliance student groups) and family support dramatically reduce — or in many cases, completely eliminate — negative mental health disparities experienced by many LGBTQ youth.

Let's recognize and celebrate the recent Supreme Court decision in favor of marriage equality as a crucial step toward ensuring the mental health and well-being of our LGBTQ family, friends and loved ones.

At the same time, let's continue to work toward supporting LGBTQ people.

If you feel you need support, I encourage you to connect with our local PFLAG chapter. Marriage equality is an important step toward supporting LGBTQ people, but there is still much work to be done.

Michele Schlehofer is associate professor and chairman of the Salisbury University psychology department. She is a trainer for the Safe Spaces program, a member of the Lower Shore LGBTQ Coalition and founder of Salisbury PFLAG — Parents Families and Friends of Lesbians and Gays. Email SalisburyPFLAG@outlook.com or the Lower Shore LGBTQ Coalition at lowershorelgbtq@gmail.com.

BY THE NUMBERS

Percent increase among lesbians, gay and bisexual people living in states that banned same-sex marriages: